Robbinsville – The Graham County Board of Commissioners accepted a bid for a new x-ray machine at the March 21 meeting, which will be used at Graham County Urgent Care and Family Practice.
The acquisition fills the final void on a checklist for items the county wanted to provide to patients at the facility, which re-opened Feb. 14 inside the former location of Smoky Mountain Urgent Care (21 S. Main St., Robbinsville). The Bryson City-based operation moved out of the building after a lease dispute went in favor of Graham County. A large motivator for legal proceedings to begin was Dr. David Castor’s refusal to operate a myriad of equipment the county had purchased in an effort to limit the travel required for many medical screenings.
Castor’s vacancy included the exit of the x-ray machine, which was the only major machine the county did not own.
“We won’t have to send anyone to another facility for an x-ray, since we have the capabilities to do them,” said Juanita Colvard, county transit director and an urgent-care advocate that works closely with the board of commissioners on the facility’s needs.
Colvard added that once the x-ray was delivered, a few modifications would be needed to get the machine into the allocated location at urgent care. The x-ray will both stand up and sit down and has a weight limit of 770 pounds.
GE was awarded the bid, at a cost of $131,603.42. The machine will be purchased using ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, so there will be no impact on local tax dollars.
In addition to family and urgent care, the practice will also be utilizing equipment that sat dormant during the latter part of Smoky Mountain Urgent Care’s operation in the building: a urinalysis machine, ultrasound, mammogram, Sofia 2 (a machine that provides rapid COVID-test results), an A1C reader, a CBC (complete blood count) analyzer and a CT scanner.
A memorial plaque will soon be placed in the radiology department in memory of Robin Reynolds, a technician who set the standards for radiology inside the facility. Reynolds passed away in January.
Additionally, Dr. Scott Bjerkness is continuing his chiropractic practice inside the building, but he has re-located to just inside the front entrance. His hours are from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Mondays and 8:30 a.m. to noon; and 1:30-5:30 p.m. Thursdays.
Universally-beloved (and county native) Meggan Smith is the on-site nurse practitioner, while Dedie Barker continues her 26 years of service as a local nurse at the facility. Mississippi-based Dr. David Booth, who once worked at Tallulah Health Clinic, has returned as the acting physician. Booth is a part-time resident of Nantahala.
Staff is slowly growing for Graham County Urgent Care and Family Practice, but the goal of being open seven days a week is being met.
Hours are 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Friday; 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturdays; and 1-6 p.m., Sundays. The facility is still working to accept most major insurance providers (currently, it is only self-pay, Medicaid or Medicare).
For details, call (828) 479-7777.